SIX RIVERS NATIONAL FOREST BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT ...a123.g.akamai.net/7/123/11558/abc123/forestservic... · constructed outside of the meadow areas consisting of approximately 12-18

Forest-Wide Projects Having No Effect (Ver. 10/12) Page 1

SIX RIVERS NATIONAL FOREST

BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT/EVALUATION

FOREST-WIDE NO EFFECT PROJECT DOCUMENTATION FORM

Gasquet Ranger District/Smith River NRA

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This BA/BE incorporates the Forest-wide Reference Document dated:

Revised Document Dated: November 12, 2010

Quarterly Species List Identification Number: 861467579-142947

Project Name: Station 3

Project Tiers to Project #(s): 1, 22, 26

Project Title(s) (from list):

1) Manual vegetation planting, grubbing, and pruning

22) Any project, limited in scope that does not retard the attainment of the ACS objectives and does

not affect any TEP wildlife, fish, or TEPS plant species or their habitats.

26) Manual treatment of invasive and noxious plant species.

Date project is expected to begin: April 2012; end: December 2017

Description of Project:

Construct 4.9 miles of shaded fuel break in strategic locations along ridgelines and road systems

adjacent to the community of Hiouchi in the Low Divide area.

The first fuel break will start at the junction of Forest Service roads 17N21 and 17N22 and will

extend approximately 1.9 miles along on the 17N21 and to the end of the road. The second fuel break

would extend from the junction of 17N21 and 17N22 to the 17N22W spur, for approximately 3 miles

(see attached map).

Both fuel breaks would be approximately 300 feet wide and total approximately 176 combined acres.

The objective of the proposed treatment is to help protect the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) near

the community of Hiouchi in the Low Divide area from wildland fires, as well as to reduce the

possibility of structure fires spreading onto National Forest lands.

Construction of these fuel breaks would remove ladder fuels and heavy concentrations of brush to

break up the continuity of the fuel loading, through the development of a “shaded fuel break” by

raising the canopy base height of existing trees. The project includes cutting moderate to heavy brush,

seedlings, saplings, and small diameter trees up to 8” diameter at breast height (DBH), and limbing

lower tree branches of overstory trees to remove fuel “ladders” (continuous fuels from the ground up

Forest-Wide Projects Having No Effect BA/BE (Ver. 10/03) page 14

to the overstory canopy). Snags within the proposed burn area will not be felled unless they propose

a safety hazard or pose a risk to control efforts. Any snag felled in the burn area would be retained as

downed logs. No treatments will occur within 50ft of stream channels within Riparian Reserves (RR).

All overstory trees will be retained. This project will create a shaded fuel break that would average

300 feet wide on the top of ridges and/or along existing FS roads.

The project includes 29 acres of Jeffrey Pine grasslands. Treatment in these areas would include

brush removal in areas of heavy fuel concentration. Brush would be piled and burned in place to

protect open grass areas. This treatment will remove encroaching vegetation. A low intensity

understory burn would be introduced to the meadow areas following pre-treatment pile burning. The

purpose of the burn is to remove fine fuels under controlled conditions, to help enhance and restore

the meadow, and help control encroachment into the existing meadow areas. Control lines may be

constructed outside of the meadow areas consisting of approximately 12-18 inch hand line scraped to

mineral soil, prior to prescribe burning.

One or more of the following treatments would be applied to each area depending on vegetation type

and slope.

1. Cutting understory vegetation: Cutting brush and understory trees up to 8” DBH that

contribute to fuel ladders that can accelerate fire spread and increase resistance to control. Trees

would be cut with chainsaws.

2. Roadside Chipping: Existing ground fuels, thinning and pruning residue, and cut brush would

be pulled to the road and chipped into small pieces using a chipper. Chipping residue would be

distributed back into the treatment unit or utilized for biomass. Wood chipper would remain within

the existing road prism.

3. Pruning: Cutting off the lower tree branches on overstory trees that contribute to a fuel ladder.

Pruning would generally occur up to 6-10 feet above the ground.

4. Hand pile and burn: Ground fuels, thinning and pruning residue, and cut brush would be piled

by hand and burned. The average hand pile size would be 4x6 feet, and spaced approximately 15 feet

apart throughout the fuel break area.

5. Understory burning and Handline Construction: Understory burning is proposed to occur on

approximately 29 acres. Meadow areas would be burned to further reduce encroachment. Control

lines may be constructed consisting of approximately 12-18 inch hand line scraped to mineral soil in

the brush areas only (outside meadow areas) prior to prescribed burning. For maintenance purposes,

understory burning or re-cutting (to all areas) will be implemented in the future.

The Station 3 Shaded Fuelbreak project area proximity to SONCC coho Critical Habitat is 0.6 miles

from Hardscrabble Creek, and 1.7 miles from the anadromous barrier falls in Myrtle Creek.

A no-treatment buffer of 50’ will be maintained for all steam channels within RRs. Brush removal

and burning in RRs will be allowed to within 50 feet of all stream channels. Ignition of understory

burns will not occur within RRs. Fire will be allowed to back into RRs, but no ignitions will occur.

No firelines will be constructed within RRs. The project will have no effect on any TES fish species

or critical habitat.


Legal Location/s of Project

T17N, R1E, Sections 10, 11, 14, 15 & 22 Humboldt Meridian, Del Norte County, California

Within Riparian Reserve? Yes

Adjacent to Fish bearing No

Baseline Conditions for Hardscrabble and Myrtle Creeks

Hardscrabble Creek contains rainbow/steelhead trout, cutthroat trout, and Chinook salmon as

determined during August 2011 snorkel surveys. Coho salmon were not observed. Fish density was

at its highest in the lower reach and dramatically decreased upstream of waterfall #3 in reach 2. A

total of 7 redds were tallied in reach 1. Redds were most often found in gravel patches in pools.

Suitable spawning habitat appeared to be the primary factor limiting anadromous use of reach 1 of

Hardscrabble Creek. Reach 1 and a small portion of lower reach 2 define the anadromous (coho,

Chinook, and steelhead) use portion of the stream. Water quality and clarity appeared excellent.

Water temperature was moderately cool in the lower portion of the surveyed section ranging from 14

C to 17 C, below lethal levels for fish. Water temperature in upper reach was warm ranging from 16

C to 24 C, approaching lethal levels for fish.

Myrtle Creek contains rainbow/steelhead trout, cutthroat trout, and Chinook salmon as determined

during July 14-15, 2011 snorkel surveys. Coho salmon were not observed. Fish density was

moderate (0.225 fish/yd2). Ten redds were observed giving a redd density of 5.8 redds/mile. The

anadromous limit is believed to be at waterfall #2 located at river mile 1.71. A resident cutthroat

trout population is known to exist upstream of the falls. Suitable spawning habitat appears to be the

only factor limiting anadromous use of reach 1 of Myrtle Creek. Water quality and clarity appeared

excellent. Water temperature was cool throughout the surveyed section ranging from 120 C to 13

0 C,

below lethal levels for fish.


Summary of Hardscrabble Creek Baseline Conditions

ENVIRONMENTAL BASELINE

SUMMARY of SURVEYED Properly At Not Properly

HABITAT PARAMETERS Functioning Risk Functioning

WATER QUALITY

Temperature range is 15C to 24C.

Riparian provided shade is dependent on geology. Shade is

less common in serpentine areas. No suspended sediment

detected. Negligible turbidity. Water is clear.

HABITAT ACCESS

Five natural waterfalls. Waterfalls #2 and #3 are

barriers to anadromy. Waterfall #3 marks the end of

anadromy. Waterfall #4 marks EOF.

HABITAT ELEMENTS

Fast water dominated expressed mainly as riffles and rapids.

Cobble/boulder dominated substrate. Gravel is found more

often as interstitial fill rather than in patches suitable for

spawning. The streambed is not embedded. Large woody

material density is low. Pool density is moderate.

Average residual pool depth is 2.3 feet. No side channels.

Fish extend 5.59 miles up from mouth.

Anadromy likely extends approx. 3 miles up from mouth.

CHANNEL CONDITION

Major areas of active bank instability observed.

Areas of dry channel.

Channel appears aggraded in some areas.

Mining, high bank and dredge, affecting 2,068 feet of channel.

HYDROLOGY

Measured discharge within expected range.

Stream is fed by numerous tributaries, seeps, and springs.

WATERSHED CONDITIONS

Road density in the Myrtle/Hardscrabble management area

is approximately 3.98 miles per square mile.

Instream OHV use in 0.83 miles of channel in upper watershed.


Summary of Myrtle Creek Baseline Conditions ENVIRONMENTAL BASELINE

SUMMARY of SURVEYED Properly At Not Properly

HABITAT PARAMETERS Functioning Risk Functioning

WATER QUALITY

Temperature range is 12C to 13C, below lethal levels for fish.

Riparian provided shade is dependent on geology. Shade is

less common in serpentine areas. No suspended sediment

detected. Negligible turbidity. Water is clear.

HABITAT ACCESS

Waterfall series at the survey endpoint appears to mark the

end of anadromy. No migration barriers found within the

surveyed section.

HABITAT ELEMENTS

Fast water dominated expressed mainly as rapids and riffles.

Cobble/boulder dominated substrate. Gravel is found more

often as interstitial fill rather than in patches suitable for

spawning. The streambed is not embedded. Large woody

debris density is moderate. Pool density is moderate.

Average residual pool depth is 2 feet. One side channel

offers refuge habitat that differs from the adjacent channel.

Anadromy likely extends 1.71 miles up from mouth.

CHANNEL CONDITION

Stable. Minor evidence of active bank instability observed.

Channel appears slightly aggraded in some areas.

High bank mining affecting 1,029 feet of channel.

HYDROLOGY

Measured discharge within expected range.

Stream is fed by numerous tributaries, seeps, and springs.

WATERSHED CONDITIONS

Road density in the Myrtle/Hardscrabble management area

is approximately 3.98 miles per square mile.

A short road parallels the stream near the mouth.

The Station 3 Shaded Fuelbreak project will not result in any changes to the baseline indicators

displayed above and will therefore have no effect on SONCC coho salmon and Critical Habitat, and

not effect on Forest Service Sensitive steelhead and coastal cutthroat trout.


The following project design features will be implemented to minimize the likelihood of any effect to

Riparian Reserves and aquatic TES species.

Igniting understory burns will not occur within designated RR (160 feet wide on each side of the

stream channel). Fire will be allowed to back into the RR, but no ignitions will occur. No firelines

will be constructed within RR. Brush removal and burning of hand piles in RR will be allowed to

within 50 feet of all stream channels. No treatments will occur within 50 feet of all stream channels in

the project area.

No heavy equipment will be used on this project, thereby minimizing the potential for any ground

disturbance to occur during implementation.

When using a wood chipper, care shall be taken to not scrape down to mineral soil when pulling

ground fuels, thinning and pruning residue, and cut brush to the road. Leaving a portion of the

residual organic matter will protect the sol from erosion and subsequent impacts.

All burning prescriptions will be implemented during or after wet weather conditions (fall through

spring). This will help prevent excessive soil heating and further reduction of organic soil material.

Fuel reduction activities should retain 50% of the existing duff mat.

To prevent the spread of noxious weeds and to protect Port-Orford Cedar from the fatal root fungus

Phytophthora lateralis, all equipment will be washed to remove soil and organic debris prior to entry

into the project area and upon final exit on site.

• Clean all equipment used in the area prior to entry on site.

• Inspect all equipment prior to leaving the site to ensure weed material and organic debris is not

exported from the area.

• All equipment shall be washed to remove soil and organic debris upon exit to the project area.

• Noxious weed sites have been identified with orange flagging. Remove weeds using weed

wrench or other means to ensure that the root is removed along with the above-ground vegetation.

Forest Service Sensitive Species (Fish)

__X This project will have no impact on any Forest Service Sensitive Fish Species.

____This project may impact individuals, but will not cause a trend towards listing for the following

Forest Service Sensitive Species: ____________________________________________ (but will not

impact any other Forest Service Sensitive Species).

Explanation:

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________


By signature I certify that the above project meets the criteria listed in Section IV (Description of the

Proposed Action) of the "Forest-wide Projects Having No Effect" BA/BE (version dated October

2003).

Fisheries Biologist

Date: 4 December 2012

This form may be used by one resource to document the No Effect for one group of species, however,

please indicate in signature block name and location of associated analysis.


============================================================== Listed/Proposed Threatened and Endangered Species for

the HIOUCHI Quad (Candidates Included)

December 4, 2012

Document number: 861467579-142947 ==============================================================

KEY:

(PE) Proposed Endangered Proposed in the Federal Register as being in danger of extinction

(PT) Proposed Threatened Proposed as likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future

(E) Endangered Listed in the Federal Register as being in danger of extinction

(T) Threatened Listed as likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future

(C) Candidate Candidate which may become a proposed species Habitat Y = Designated, P = Proposed, N = None Designated

* Denotes a species Listed by the National Marine Fisheries Service

Type Scientific Name Common Name Category Critical Habitat

Invertebrates Polites mardon mardon skipper C N

Fish

* Acipenser medirostris green sturgeon T Y

Eucyclogobius newberryi tidewater goby E Y

* Oncorhynchus kisutch S. OR/N. CA coho

salmon

T Y

Birds

Brachyramphus marmoratus marbled murrelet T Y

Coccyzus americanus Western yellow-

billed cuckoo

C N

Strix occidentalis caurina northern spotted

owl

T Y

Mammals

Martes pennanti fisher, West Coast

DPS

C N


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SIX RIVERS NATIONAL FOREST BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT ...a123.g.akamai.net/7/123/11558/abc123/forestservic... · constructed outside of the meadow areas consisting of approximately 12-18